Electroplating apparatus.



No. 784,617. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. H. & G. H. FLBISCHER.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a fag w ow f Z6 Mb maul W NITED STATEs Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN FLEISCHER AND CHARLES H. FLEISCHER, OF NE BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT,ASSIGNORS TO THE STANLEY WORKS, OF NEW BRIT- AIN, CONNECTICUT, ACORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,617, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,294.

To all 1071/0777, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HERMAN FLEIsoHER and CHARLES H. FLEISCHER, citizensof the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county ofHartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electroplating Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to electroplating apparatus, and has for itsobject the saving of time, labor, and material and the production ofwork of uniformlyhigh grade.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a platingapparatus constructed to embody our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofa portion of the tank, the carriers, and conveying-chains. Fig. 3 is arelatively enlarged cross-section of the tank, showing the carriers andthe parts carried thereby in place. Fig. 4 is a relatively enlargeddetail view. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a furtherdevelopment of our invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certaindriving-sprockets, detached and relatively enlarged.

1 is a'water-tight tank of usual form, open at the top. The tank 1receives and holds the plating solution. 2, 2 are anodes. 3, 3 arearticles to beplated, which will hereinafter be termed the cathodes. Inthe preferred form of our invention both the anodes and cathodes aremechanically conveyed into, through, and out of said plating solution;but it is not absolutely essential to certain fundamental features ofthe invention that the cathodes themselves be moved through saidsolution.

l, 4 are bars, which we term anode-carriers, the same being formedofsuitable conducting material. Both ends of each of the anode-carriersA are connected to drive chains or belts 5, 5, arranged to traverse onopposite sides of the tank, each chain 5 traversing over a series ofindependent guide-sprockets arranged on opposite sides of the machine.

6, 6 are cathode-carriers, from which are suspended the cathodes 3, 3.Both ends of each cathode-carrier are attached to chains 7, 7, which arearranged to traverse the opposite sides of the tank and are guided bysuitable independent sprockets, also located on opposite sides of themachine.

The chains 5 and 7 are driven at a corresponding rate of speed. Anysuitable driving means may be provided. For example, the guide-sprockets8, 8 (see Fig. .6) may be mounted upon a shaft 8, so that when rotarymotion is imparted to one of said sprockets it will be transmittedthrough one shaft to the other sprocket. One of the sprockets 9,traversed by chain 7, may act as the drive-sprocket for one of thechains 7. The corresponding guide-sprocket on the other side of themachine (not shown) may be mounted on a shaft with the guide-sprocket 9,so that when one turns the other will turn. The driving-sprock- ,ets 8,9 may be connected by means of achain 8 so that power applied to eitherof the sprockets 8 or 9 will be transmitted to the other. In thepreferred construction the sprockets 8, 9 are rotated intermittently bymeans of a ratchet 10, pawl 11, and rocking arm 12.

The anode-carriers 4 are spaced apart at equal intervals, and thecathode-carriers are spaced apart atlike intervals. \Vhen the anodes andthe cathodes are being conveyed through the solution in the tank 1 it ispreferred that said anodes and cathodes be spaced apart alternately andat equal intervals.

13, 13 are tracks along the upper opposite edges of the tank I andarranged to support the anodecarriers 4 while the anodes are llllmersedin the solution in tank 1. 14:, 1% are tracks also arranged along theedges of the tank 1, their function being to support thecathode-carriers 6 when the cathodes are immersed in the solution. Toprevent interference, the tracks 14, 14 are preferably spaced apart aless width and are at a lower elevation than the tracks 13. The lengthof the cathode-carriers 6 is correspondingly less than the length of theanode-carriers A. One or both of the tracks 13 constitutes electricalcontact for the carrier 4. The same is true of one or both of the tracks14:, the same being an electrical contact'for the cathode-carrier 6. Thesigns plus ('I) and minus represent the respective electricalconnections. The track 13 being the anode connection is positive, whilethe track 1 being the cathode connection is negative.

The chains 5 and 7 are preferably insulated from the carriers 4: and 6.

15 is a bushing of insulating material pro vided at each end of thecarriers. Pins 5, carried by the chain 5, project into theseinsulating-bushings 15.

The guide-sprockets over which the anodechains 5 run are so arrangedthat the anodes will be lowered into the plating solution at one end ofthe tank, whereupon the anodecarrier will make electrical connction withthe track 13. The anodes are then conveyed through the solution andremoved from the other end of the tank. The guide-sprockets over whichthe cathode-chains 7 run are so arranged that the cathodes will belowered into the solution alternately with the anodes, whereupon thecathode-carriers will make an electrical connection with the track 14:.The cathodes are then conveyed through the plating solution and removedfrom the other end of the tank. hile in the solution the cathodes andanodes are preferably spaced apart at equal intervals. While in theplating solution the surfaces of the anodes will become fouled by ascum-like deposit, which if allowed to accumulate will impair the freeplating action and dissolution of the metal. By making the anodesautomatically removable they may be readily cleanedfor example, bycausing them to be immersed in an anodecleansing bath, which may beprovided in tank15. The guide-sprockets 16, 16, 17 are so arranged thateach anode will be lifted up over the edges of the tank 15 and immersedfor a short time in the cleansing solution therein. There are manyadvantages in keeping the anodes clean, among which are rapidity ofdissolution of the metal, relatively rapid speed, and uniformity ofdeposit, saving in electric current and chemicals. The balance of theguide-sprockets for the anode-chain not already numbered are indicatedat 18, 18. Obviously the particular arrangement of the guide-sprocketsand the method of supporting them is entirely immaterial.

The movement of the chains 5, 7 is so comparatively slow that anoperator standing at either end of the tank may remove the platedarticles from the cathode-carriers 6 and substitute unplatcd articleswhich in due course will be conveyed through the plating solution, aspreviously described.

By causing the articles to be passed through the solution alternatelywith the anodes each line of articles suspended from a cathode-carrieris moving into a sphere of solution which has been enriched by thedissolution of the 'anode immediately in front of it, the said anodepractically recharging the solution which has been partiallyimpoverished by the cathode immediately preceding said anode.

\Vhile to those features of the invention already described it is notessential that the apparatus shall have the capacity of preparing thearticles to receive the plating deposit, a further development of ourinvention contemplates the continuation of the cathode-chains 7, 7 sothat they will cause the cathode-carriers 6, 6 and articles suspendedtherefrom to traverse a washing-tank 19, Fig. 5, in which tank variousbaths may be provided in separate compartments into which the articlesto be plated may be successively immersed in order to prepare thesurfaces thereof to receive the plating solution. We have found thatgreat economies are attained by this arrangement. Not only is the dangerof possible contamination of the surface of the articles renderedpractically impossible, because the articles are not manually handledafter being cleaned and until they are plated, but a decided saving inchemicals results. The chains 7, as shown in Fig. 5,.traverse in thedirec tion of the arrows, so that an operator standing at the left-handend of the tank may attach to the carriers mounted on the chain 7 thearticles to be plated. These articles are conveyed into the severalpreparatory baths successively, and the movement is so comparativelyslow that ample opportunity is given for the chemicals to drip from thearticles into the baths from which they are removed before beingimmersed in another bath which may be, for example, of a differentchemical nature. This drip occurs directly over thebath from which thearticle is removed, and hence the particular chemicals therein aresaved.

The danger of injury to operatives by contact with the chemicalsincidental to the cleansing of the articles is entirely eliminated.

20 is a final washing-tank at the opposite end of the plating-tank intowhich the plated articles are immersed after being removed from theplating solution.

21, 21 represent the sprockets for the chain 7, whereby said chain ismoved in such a course that the cathode-carriers supported by said.chain will be conveyed in such a direc tion to move the articles to beplated over each of the partitions in the tanks 19 and 20, so that thesaid articles will be washed or immersed in the aforesaid baths. Theparticular arrangement of these sprockets 21 is of course immaterial solong as they permit of the use of endless bands or belts 7.

\Vhat we claim is- 1. In an electroplating apparatus, a series ofanodes, an endless conveyer for said anodes, a plating-tank arranged inthe path of travel of said anodes said conveyors immersing each of saidanodes successively into and removing the same from said plating-tank.

2. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, endless chainsarranged at opposite sides of the tank, anode-carriers connected withsaid chains and conveyed thereby, said carriers extending transverselyof the path of travel ofsaid conveyers, and anodes suspended from saidcarriers and arranged to be mechanically immersed in, moved through andremoved irom said tank.

3. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a series of anodes, aseries of cathodes, independent supports for said anodes and cathodes,means for conveying said anodes and cathodes into, through and out ofsaid plating-tank.

4. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a series of anodes, aseries of cathodes and independent conveyers for said anodes andcathodes said conveyers being arranged to move said anodes and cathodesinto, through and out of said plating-tank.

5. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, an anode-cleansingtank, an anode, a conveyor for said anode arranged to move said anodeinto, through and out of each of said tanks alternately.

6. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, ananode-cleansingtank, an anode, a conveyer for said anode arranged tomove said anode into, through and out of each of said tanks alternately,and a cathode and means for conveying said cathode into, through and outof said plating-tank simultaneously with said anode.

7. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a movable anode, amovable cathode and means for alternately immersing said anode andcathode in said plating-tank and independent supports and conveyers forsaid anodes and cathodes.

8. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, movable anodes,movable cathodes, means for alternately immersing said anodes andcathodes in said tank and conveying them therethrough at substantiallyequal intervals apart and independent sup ports and conveyers for saidanodes and cathodes.

9. In an electroplating apparatus, a tank, movable anodes, movablecathodes and means for inimersingsaid anodes and cathodes in said tankand for conveying them therethrongh at equal intervals apart andindependent supports and conveyers therefor.

10. In an electroplating apparatus, a plating-tank, a movable anode, amovable cathode and independent means for immersing said anodes andcathodes in said plating-tank and for moving the same therethrough atthe same rate of speed.

11. In an electroplatingapparatus, a series of anodes, a series ofcathodes, movable conveyers therefor, a plating-tank, electricalcontacts and independent means for conveying said anodes and cathodesinto and through said tank and bringing them into electrical connectionwith said contacts only while said anodes and cathodes are immersed insaid tank.

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for holdingaplating solution, tracks along the upper edge thereof and constitutingone of the poles of an electric circuit, an anode-carrier arranged to besupported by and in electrical contact with said tracks, means formoving said anode-carrier along said tracks and an anode suspended. fromsaid carrier and in electrical contact therewith and immersed in saidsolution.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing aplating solution, anode and cathode tracks at opposite sides thereof,anode-carriers supported on said anode-tracks, cathode-carrierssupported on said cathode-tracks, means for moving both of said carriersalong said tracks and for keeping said carriers and articles suspendedtherefrom from contact with each other.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing aplating solution, anode carriers, cathode carriers and means for movingboth of said carriers along the upper part of said tank whereby articlessuspended therefrom may be immersed in a solution contained within saidtank and means for elevating said carriers before the same reach the endof the tank.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing aplating solution,an anode-cleansing tank,a movable anodecarrier, meansfor moving said anode-carrier over each of said tanks alternatelywhereby an anode suspended from said carrier may be immersed in aplating solution in the firstmentioned tank and subsequently immersed ina washing solution contained in said secondmentioned tank and so on.

Signed at New Britain, Connecticut, this 20th day of May, 1904:.

HERMAN FLEISCHER. CHARLES H. FLEISGHER. IVitnesses:

O. E. BENTLEY, GEO. I. HART.

